Traditional Agroforestry Ecosystem for Rural Prosperity

Abstract

Pursuance of prosperity has always been the aim of rural development program. A strategy to vitalizing rural economy to ensure equitability is achieved through optimal utilization of local resources. It is an inclusive approach, widely implemented which also applied in Indonesia. In order to examine the concept, a qualitative study was conducted in Sumba Barat Daya in East Nusa Tenggara Province, in which agriculture is the leading sector of regional development. Assessment is focussed toward the potency of natural resource, specifically traditional agroforestry system, producing variety of estate crops which are sold in local, regional and international market as well. Representing different type of market system, assessment on cashew and coffee crops were discussed. The analysis indicates that potency to achieve prosperity seems more promising when the strategy implemented is local driven. We encounter that farming activity in managing coffee based agroforestry generates local innovation, not just in ecosystem management, but also in post harvest handling and local market system establishment. Therefore, management of coffee agroforestry leads better to inclusivity in comparison with cashew. However, to ensure sustainable support of traditional agroforestry ecosystem to rural livelihood, understanding socio-ecological dynamics of rural Sumba should be acquired in order to generate supportive relevant policies.. yamu,to,